7.28.2011

little tokyo nightclub shooting victim dies

This is a crazy, senseless story out of Los Angeles... Last weekend, a man wearing a ski mask opened fire into a crowd of people outside a Little Tokyo night club, hitting two men. 29-year-old Jackie Hoang, who was smoking outside the Vault XXI Boutique Lounge when he was shot, died of his wounds at the hospital: Little Tokyo Nightclub Shooting Victim Dies.

We're lucky more people were not injured in this attack," Lt. Paul Vernon said in a prepared statement. "It appears the victims were targeted by the suspect as they stood at the entrance to the nightclub."

The men were hit multiple times before they crawled back inside the club.

Investigators found ten bullet casings at the scene, police said. The attack may have been prompted by a dispute in the club, but police aren't yet sure if the shooting victims were the intended shooting targets.

The shooter fled on foot, police said. He was described as five foot, seven inches tall, wearing a beige mini-fedora, a dark flannel shirt and jeans. Detectives believe the shooter could be Asian.

"There's a number of people out there who do know who did this," Vernon said. "We'd hope they would come forward right away."

An Asian shooter? Ski mask? What the hell was this about? Fortunately, the other shooting victim is in stable condition, and nobody else was hurt. Scary as hell that you could be just standing outside a nightclub and randomly get shot.

Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call Detective Al Marengo, Central Homicide Unit, at (213) 972-1249. Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters "LAPD." Online tips can also be placed at LAPDOnline.org.